Troopers investigate case of child being hit by SUV

Thursday, Nov. 8, 2007

By Marcie Young
Charlotte Observer Staff Writer

Authorities are trying to determine if the caution lights were blinking and the stop sign was extended on a Caldwell County school bus Wednesday morning when a kindergartner was hit by another car.

Trooper M.T. Stutts of the state Highway Patrol said Thursday that 5-year-old Dancy Porter was crossing the street near the intersection of Calico and Autumn roads at about 6:45 a.m. when she was struck by a sports utility vehicle.

She was taken to Carolinas Medical Center, where she was in critical but stable condition, Stutts said.

The driver of the SUV, 22-year-old Karmen Stewart of Lenoir, was not speeding and has not been charged, Stutts said.

Authorities have heard conflicting reports about whether the caution lights were flashing and the stop sign was extended, Stutts said.

"Until we get something concrete, that’s the question mark," he said.

Dancy’s mother, Melissa Porter, was waiting at the bus stop with her daughter, Stutts said, when the bus stopped at the intersection. Porter told authorities that the bus’ caution flashers were not activated and the stop sign was not extended from the side of the bus when her child stepped out into the road and was hit, Stutts said.

But Cheri Mayberry, who was driving the bus, told Stutts that she had turned on the orange, flashing lights and that the stop sign arm was out, he said.

A witness behind the bus told authorities that the bus was stopped and the rear, brake lights were, but was not sure if the caution lights were flashing or if he saw the stop sign arm extending from the driver’s side of the bus, Stutts said.

Authorities inspected the bus, Stutts said, and found that the lights and extendable stop sign were not broken.


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